Regulator for dynamo-electric machines



(No Model.)

T. A. EDISON.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES.

Patented Sept. 19, 1882.

WITNESSES u mus. MSUS Wad-Ion. uv c.

' INVEN TOR:

fx 5 BY flaw ATTORNE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. EDISON, OF MENLO PARK, NE\V JERSEY.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAMQ-ELECTRIC MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 264,665, dated September 19, 1882.

(No rnOdclJ To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TnoMAs A. EDISON, of Menlo Park, in the county of Middlesex' and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Regulation of Dynamo or Magneto Electric Machines, (Case N0. M4,) and I do hereby declare that the following isa full and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanyingdrawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon. v

The object of this invention is to produce a regulating apparatus for dynamo and magneto electric machines which shall regulate the generation of current either for variations in the number of translating devices in circuit from the machine or for variations in the speed of the steam-engine or other motor used to rotate the armature of the machine. Such apparatus consists, generally speaking, of an adjustable resistance in the field-circuit of the machine anda movablearm,by meansof which portions of such resistance are placed in or taken outof circuit, the means for moving such arm being, first, a centrifugal governor attached to and operated by any moving part of the generating apparatus, thus regulating for variations of speed; and, second, an electromagnet placed directly in the main circuit from the generator, or else in a shunt therefrom, and in such position as to attract the movable arm when sufiiciently energized.

A convenient form of my invention is shown diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing.

A is a dynamo-electric machine, from which lead main conductors 1 2, having translating devices a a arranged upon them in multiple arc. The multiple-arc circuit 3 4 (shown in dotted lines) is the fieldcircuit energizing the magnet of the machine.

()n the armature-shaft B is mounted a pulley, b, from which a belt, 0, passes over the pulley d on the shaft of a centrifugal governor, (J.

Attached to the governor (J, and moved back and forth by it, is an arm, D, whose lower end, 0, is opposite the free ends of the series of spring-retracted contact-levers f f. Theseopen and close circuit at points gg, according as they are thrown forward by the arm Dordrawn back by their springs, h It being pins of insulating material. The adjustable resistance F is connected in the field-circuit of the machine, as shown, so that when an arm,f, is in contact with its stop 1 the correspondingportion ot'tho resistance is short-circuited.

Directly in the main circuit 1 2 is placed an electro-magnet, E, the poles of which are opposite the arm D, so that it will attract said arm when sufficientlyenergized, and thus allow the contact-leversff to make contact with the pointsgg. Normallythat is, when few lamps a are in circuit and the engine is running at its proper speed-a portion of the resistance Fisincircuit,asshowninthedrawing. Should this small number of lamps be still further reduced, the magnet E will weaken and release the arm D, so as to open circuit at more of the points 9 and throw more of the resistance F into the field-circuit; or should the speed of the engine suddenly increase from any cause the same effect would be produced, the drawing up ofthe governor-balls pulling forward the arm D. Should, however, the number of translatingdevices in circuit beincreased, the energy of the magnet E will also become greater, and the' arm D will be drawn back, closing one or more circuits at g around portions of the resistance F and properly increasing the energy of the field-magnet. The same effect is produced by a decrease in the speed of the engine actuating the armature, the governor (3 push ing the arm D back, so as to close circuits around portions of the resistance. It is evident that the governor C could be run from the engine-shaftinstead of from thatof the armature, or, if desired, from any other moving portion of the apparatus.

The circuit 3 4, instead of being a multiplearc circuit from the main, could be a shunt therefrom, or a circuit supplied from another dynamomachine or other suitable external source.

The arrangement of resistances and contactarms could of course be varied in many ways, if desired.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. The combination of a dynamo or magneto electric machine, an adjustable resistance in its fieldcircuit, a movable arm for varying such resistance, mechanical means connected with and actuated by a moving portion of the machine or of the motor which drives it, for niovin gsaid arm to vary said resistance, and means actuated by the current generated, also for moving said arm to vary the resistance, substantially asset forth.

2. The combination of a dynamo or magneto electric machine, an adjustable resistance in its field-circuit, a movable arm for varying such resistance. mechanical means connected with and actuated by some moving portion of the apparatus for moving said arm to vary the resistance, and an electro-magnet in the main circnitorin a shunt therefrom, also for moving said arm to vary the resistance, substantially as set forth.

3, The combination of adyuamo or magneto its field-circuit, a movable arm for varying such resistance, a centrifugal governor connected with and actuated by some moving portion of the apparatus, and also connected with said arm, so as to move it back and forth, and an electro-magnet energized by the current generated, and also adapted to move said arm back and forth, substantially as .set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 1st day of May, 1882.

THOMAS A EDISON.

Witnesses:

H. W. SEELY, I. B. WILBER. 

